Note to Eagles fans: channel Michael Vick anger by helping animals

PHILADELPHIA - Michael Vick says he's sorry and will spend the rest of his life trying to save more dogs than he harmed. Jeffrey Lurie said he needed to see a lot of "self-hatred" before he was willing to give Vick 1.6 million of his dollars. Andy Reid spoke of how second chances make both this country, and the NFL, "a great thing."

I am not smart enough to discern the sincerity of each and all. What I can discern though is the squeamishness felt among many fans in the Philadelphia area who are caught between the love of their Birds and the love of their dogs.

Or cats.

Or, well, birds.

I'm one of them. I'm not mean enough to say Michael Vick should never be allowed to play professional football again. I'm not kind enough to say all is forgiven. I am honest enough to admit ambivalence about the upcoming Eagles season, and if polls are to be believed, I am far from alone.

Do you cheer when Vick does well? Or do you squirm in your seat? The cynical view is that all will be absolved with the first big play, our propensity to merge virtue with victory inexhaustible. But it will be tested here.

The Humane Society estimates that there are 40,000 professional fighting dogs in the United States and 100,000 additional "street fighters." In June, David Nigro, of Overbrook, was charged with 66 counts of animal cruelty after police discovered 19 scarred and wounded dogs chained outside of his home. Sadly, this area is one of the cruelty hotbeds, and thus our shelters are bulging with rescued, abandoned and abused dogs. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that Philadelphia's two shelters will take in well over 22,000 cats and dogs by the end of this year.

The numbers are similar in Camden (N.J.) County, where I live, and probably similar in the county you live in, too. Every one of them has an easily accessible Web site, and every one of them is looking for people to adopt, donate, raise funds, volunteer and help with public awareness. The dogs need to be washed. They need to be walked. They could use some kind words, too.

A recent basket auction by Angel Folgio raised $1,200 for the Camden County Animal Shelter. The Eagles should solicit volunteers from these places to canvas their lots on Sundays. Maybe even donate some nice tickets to raffle off for those who adopt.

You, me, anyone for whom this signing doesn't sit well, we should find some time, money or both to help out.

At the time of sentencing, Vick agreed to pay just under $1 million to rehabilitate 22 dogs from his Bad Newz Kennels that were deemed worth saving. After Vick signed with the Eagles, Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society - which took on the task of rehabilitating the dogs after both PETA and the Humane Society advised euthanizing them - issued a statement, part of which appears below:

"Best Friends feels that perhaps the cart is being placed before the horse. Wouldn't it have been better if, before he was given the privilege of returning to the NFL, he had spent at least one year working for the good of animals? He could have worked as a shelter volunteer, visited community centers, and delivered messages to at-risk children, totally free from the glare of the pro football spotlight. Surely this act of dedication would help us see what truly is in his heart."

Truth is, his arrival into town has forced me to relive that gruesome chapter, has forced a refresher course on the six years of cruelties conducted at the Bad Newz Kennels. It forced me to reread that bloodcurdling Sports Illustrated story from Dec. 29, 2008, about the surviving dogs from Bad Newz Kennels.

"As it is," the Best Friends statement continued, "we're left to wonder if his expression of repentance is genuine or just part of a well-orchestrated plan to return him to multimillion-dollar, sports megastar status."

That's the uneasiness reflected in the polls, on the talk shows, the part that will make cheering for this team a challenge for many this season. Vick could help with sincere and continuing activism against animal abuse. The Eagles could make this a cause, too, become an agent for change.

"We hope that people concerned about Vick's return to football will channel their frustrations into something positive," said the Best Friends statement. "Take a pit bull for a walk. Volunteer at your local shelter. Better yet, skip an Eagles game and donate what you would have paid for a ticket to the animal welfare organization of your choice."